Her ExcellencyLady Stormy TigreGrand Duchess of HesterburLady Defender of the Palatine Order

Lady Stormy, widow of Lord Denschlep Tigre VI and Brand Hammerlek, is a self-made, wealthy and popular woman that has served her nation in many capacities and has the distinction of being the first Courtesan to attain the honor of Lady Defender of the Palatine Order. She was a successful in business, founded the Diplomatic Courier Service and served simultaneously as Commander of the Queen's Guard and Matron in Waiting to the Queen before entering politics. She won a seat in Parliament and the Prime Minister's office in the same election, nearly unheard of. She later served as Governor General of Waldenberg and now as Grand Duchess of Hesterbur.

The present finds Stormy in the two greatest challenges of her life: cleaning up a city that is a province in its own right, and raising a toddler.

Hours later, the wedding and its party no longer entertaining Stormy found herself at the window with a brandy in her hand watching Marcus, Hailey and Belle playing in his fort, shouting their defiance as a few guardsmen tossed little bags of flour that made impressive little white poofs as they landed near them, to be thrown back with more excitement than accuracy.

Stormy wondered where Francis was, then she saw him. He was off behind the fort playing with a pile of sand. He was building some sort of sand castle, but Stormy wasn't sure exactly what it was because she could only see the edge of the object. She watched the children playing, she wondered what the powdered bags were meant to represent. She didn't wonder so much that she would seek out the answer though. "Roper" she said to the young man as he passed through the room, "there is a concert coming up. Please find out when are where it will be" she considered, "I will want to know where any close concert is" she nodded. "I would like for us to make a effort to keep Marcus exposed to music of all kinds. I do not want him to lose his musical talents" she smiled, "I like his music."

"How did he know that he could request a marching band" she asked giving Roper a look. "It isn't as if I have hired any bands to entertain him before. I think someone must of told him about that possibility" she looked at Roper again. "People say that I am spoiling him" she shook her head, "little do they know that it is really you" she pointed her finger at him.

"Hmm" she made a face, "well someone is teaching him these things. But, you still went ahead and ordered the band" she pointed out. "Did you even try to talk him out of it? How badly is this last minute band going to cost me anyway?"

"I need to go see X" she said after thinking over his answer for a few moments. "He is spoiling Marcus even worse than I am" she laughed and shook her head. "So far" she looked out the window at the playing children, "he isn't overly spoiled. Of course he doesn't hear no very often either" she pointed out. She sighed and turned away from the window, "did you want to go to the wedding celebration? It will be going on for most of the night" she added.

"I think he is just caught up in Marcus" she said with a shrug. "Soon Marcus will be busy with Jamen. I think that things will calm down once they begin. But, I do not see it as him preparing Marcus and if I claimed that no one would believe me."

"That is just it" she shook her head, "he is a toddler not a teenager. He doesn't have that kind of mental capacity" she paused and looked at him, "and if he does then he will be very very scary when he comes of age."

Stormy gave Roper a doubtful look before she headed outside to enjoy the band. As long as it was coming, she might as well get some enjoyment from it. Stormy held Marcus' hand and led the children out into the street to watch the band go by.

Stormy took the children back inside. "Wasn't that fun?" she asked the Bragg children with a smile. Stormy had seen Francis, Hailey and Belle many times. She hadn't really gone out of her way to talk to them though. She was now very curious to see if they were as clever as Marcus seemed to be. Perhaps she was wrong, maybe young children were smarter than she gave them credit for. But, she really didn't think so.

Francis didn't answer, but he was laughing and stomping his feet to the fading beat. "No need to brag Marcus" Stormy said quietly as she shood the children back into the yard. Stormy latched and locked the gate behind her. "We have lots of instruments if you would all like to go play with them" Stormy suggested.

Marcus led them at a screaming run through the house to the music hadd, which was soon filled with a deafening din of enthusiastic noise. The servants' heads poked out from all over, sharing a universal wince.

Stormy didn't share the universal wince. In fact she liked the music, it was lively and happy, even if it wasn't in tune. She poured a fresh brandy and sat in her office (just off the music hall) and listened while she read through her personal correspondence.

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